EFFECT OF ALKALI-METAL CHLORIDES ON THE KINETICS OF REDUCTION OF TITANIUM TETRACHLORIDE BY MAGNESIUM

The effect of alkali-metal chlorides on the process of making sponge t itanium by magnesium reduction has been investigated. The kinetics of titanium tetrachloride reduction by magnesium has been studied by a me thod in which liquid titanium tetrachloride is continuously supplied t o the surface of molten magnesium. The sequence of reactions, the rate constant, the activation energy, and the rate-controlling step of the process have been determined from the experimental data. It has bean found that the presence of alkali-metal chlorides favors an increase i n the rate of the reduction, which occurs due to dissolution of lower titanium chlorides in alkali-metal chlorides.